I am always on the look-out for easy food-projects I can undertake with my very-eager-to-help-out six-year-old.
There is nothing she likes more that putting her little apron on and helping me bake or cook or chop or stir, and I know that these hours we spend together in our kitchen will leave us with more than just baked goods. Much more important than what edible treats we produce, in my opinion, are the memories we are making, just me and my little girl.
This week, I have come across all these cute little things you can make using your ice cube tray, and I cannot wait for the weekend to get into the kitchen to try them out.
1. Rice Krispy Treat Poppers
In our house, anything containing rice krispy are always a winner.
Ingredients
Ice cube tray
6 cups of Rice Krispy ceral
1 package of marshmallows
3 tbsp. butter
Melting chocolate (white or dark)
Sprinkles
Instructions
To make basic rice krispy treat: Melt the butter, add the marshmallows and allow them to melt with the butter, then pour in the dry cereal.
Next, use non-stick cooking spray inside of a plastic ice cube tray.
Place the warm rice krispy treat mixture into the ice cube tray and let them cool. Then, melt chocolate for dipping.
Simply dip the base of the rice krispy treat popper into the melted chocolate and let your kids douse the poppers in sprinkles! Once the chocolate is cooled, the sprinkles will be stuck to the rice krispy poppers.
(Image and idea via Smartschoolhouse.com)
2. Easy Frozen Yogurt Fruit Pops
These are the perfect take on healthy lollipops!
Ingredients
Yogurt
Fresh diced fruit (like strawberries, mango and kiwi)
You’ll also need popsicle sticks and a ice cube tray.
Instructions
Dice your fruit into small pieces. Layer the bottom of your tray with the fruit, then fill with yogurt.
Pop your tray in the freezer. After about half an hour, just when the yogurt is just starting to freeze, place your popsicle sticks upright and place back in the freezer until completely frozen.
(Image and idea via Hellowonderful.com)
3. Granola Bar Poppers
I love adding granola bars to the kids’ lunch boxes or using for a healthy-ish after-school snack. These are a fun. bite-sized version.
Ingredients
- 1/4 cup of butter
- 2 1/2 cups of rolled oats
- 1/2 cup of sliced almonds
- 1/3 cup of honey
- 1/4 cup of brown sugar
- 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
- 1/4 teaspoon of salt
- 1/2 cup of dried and chopped cranberries
- 1/4 cup of chocolate chips
Instructions
- Toast the oats and the almonds on a foil lined baking tray in your oven for 7 minutes at 180 degrees Celcius. Once they are done, put them in a large mixing bowl.
- On the stove over medium heat: melt the butter, brown sugar, vanilla extract, salt, and honey. Once the sugar is completely melted and dissolved, pour the mixture over the toasted oats and almonds.
- Stir together until completely combined (about 2-3 minutes).
- Add in the cranberries and about 1/2 of the chocolate chips.
- Stir the mixture again
- Spray the inside of 2 plastic ice cube trays very lightly with non-stick spray
- Press the granola bar mixture into the ice cube trays
- Sprinkle the rest of the mini chocolate chips on top of the granola bar poppers in the ice cube tray.
- Allow the poppers to completely cool.
You can store these poppers in an air tight container or plastic baggies in the refrigerator for about a week. We love to grab them when we are on the go or when we are packing up our lunch boxes. They are the perfect snack sized bite and are packed with energy boosting ingredients (which is super important for young minds!).
(Image and idea via Smartschoolhouse.com)
